How do you smack a smack pack?

Sumo · 08-20-2008, 11:31 AM

I bought my first smack pack yeast this past weekend, and Started setting up my equipment. As I went to pop the "little bag" inside I noticed it moves all over the pouch and it hard to nail down. Needless to say I thought I broke it only to open the pouch and see I had not. I cut it with sterile siccors and swished it around and dumped it into the carboy with my wort.

The yeast did its job, i have never seen such a roiling fermentation before!

But to get back to the question, how do make sure the pack inside breaks, i thought for sure that if I whacked it hard the outer bag was gonna bust. Plus that sucker rolls around, a lot. It reminded my of giving my dog his first bath and trying to keep him still.

FishinDave07 · 08-20-2008, 12:12 PM

hold it in your left hand, smack it with your right. Smack it like it owes you money

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Smack Pack Video

bsay · 08-20-2008, 12:15 PM

Alternately, you can feel around the pack for the inner pouch. Corner it and press on it really hard. Then check the pack (feel around) to make sure it's broken.

**AnOldUR** · 08-20-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsay

Alternately, you can feel around the pack for the inner pouch. Corner it and press on it really hard. Then check the pack (feel around) to make sure it's broken.

I second this method. After an experience like yours, I started beating the heck out of them. That is until the day that the smack pack started to leak. Now I lay it on the counter top, feel around until getting the inner pack isolated under my palm and push down really hard. You can feel and sometimes hear the inner pack break. Knead the pack to check real close that the inner pack is broken. Give the pack a good shake every now and then until it’s fully expanded.

**bull8042** · 08-20-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsay

Alternately, you can feel around the pack for the inner pouch. Corner it and press on it really hard. Then check the pack (feel around) to make sure it's broken.

Yeah, this is pretty much what I do. Get it cornered so it can't slip away and give it a squeeze until it pops. It seems like I have to fight with one every once in a while even now.

**Seabee John** · 08-20-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsay

Alternately, you can feel around the pack for the inner pouch. Corner it and press on it really hard. Then check the pack (feel around) to make sure it's broken.

there is some thought to the fact that this method really isn't that great. I used to do this until my brother-in-law was over for a brew and had me cut open the used package to see the bubble inside... Sure I has broken the inner bubble, but not by much, and had left about 1/3 of the wort in the bubble (still clear). The difference between the two is if you squeeze it, you will have a smaller opening, than if you smack it like it made a pass at your wife, it will rip the seam completely open

noisy123 · 08-20-2008, 12:51 PM

John:

+1

I noticed the same thing. Thankfully I was using a starter but I am sure my initial yeast count was low.

Sumo · 08-20-2008, 03:28 PM

Thank you for the input. I just read a thread for a guy who whacked it good and dowsed his wife with the yeast pack.

I will try the cornering it, whacking it like it owed money approach. I haven't brew in a few days and I should start another batch of something. Its funny I brewed my first batch 3 weeks ago, and I haven't even got to taste that one yet, and I find myself driving out of my way to stop at the brew shop to get more stuff to brew. Does that go away?

98EXL · 08-20-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adigeso

Does that go away?

no, welcome to the addiction

**BierMuncher** · 08-20-2008, 04:55 PM

On topic please.